Zack Sharf Yahya Abdul-Mateen II’s career thus far has included an Emmy-winning turn on HBO’s “Watchmen,” awards buzz for playing Bobby Seale in “The Trial of the Chicago 7” and movies like “Candyman,” “Aquaman” and “The Matrix Resurrections.” Such an eclectic balance of film and TV projects is the result of Abdul-Mateen’s curation, as he’s made it a priority to balance out comic book tentpoles like “Aquaman” with more serious dramatic fare. The actor recently told Vulture that acting in a movie like “Aquaman” is “clown work,” so it’s important for him to flex his acting muscles in other projects. “Everything should be about getting to the truth. But sometimes you got to know which movie or genre you’re in,” Abdul-Mateen said. “Something like ‘Aquaman,’ that’s clown work. ‘Aquaman’ is not ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7.’ You have got to get over yourself.”
Lauren Lapkus To Exec Produce & Star In Postpartum Comedy ‘Another Happy Day’
12.08.2022 - 20:11 / deadline.com
EXCLUSIVE: Lauren Lapkus (Orange Is the New Black) is set as the executive producer and star of the indie comedy Another Happy Day, which Nora Fiffer wrote and is directing for Red Squirrel Films, in her feature debut.
The postpartum depression comedy, currently in production in Chicago, is loosely inspired by the writer-director’s experience becoming a mother. Lapkus will play Joanna, a “total nut” who is wearing new motherhood so awkwardly that she remarks candidly “I’m not really a mom, I just have a baby, you know?” This new mom is also an artist who isn’t making any art, and feels truly terrible at taking care of her newborn, as she stumbles through her days. She can’t get her old job back, her old friends have moved on without her, her husband thinks he’s a better mother than she is, she’s terribly sleep deprived, and her baby won’t look at her. On her desperate search for a friend, she tumbles into an unlikely bond with an estranged aunt-in-law she never knew.
Another Happy Day has obtained fiscal sponsorship from Chicago’s Full Spectrum Features, and continues to accept tax-deductible donations. Inherent Films’ Jessie Holder Tourtellotte will appear alongside Lapkus in the feature and is producing alongside Fiffer and UPM Quinn Nicholson. Lapkus is joined as an exec producer on the project by Eugene Sun Park (The Year Between).
“I’ve often thought that my transition into motherhood would have been a lot easier if I’d had a clearer picture of new parenthood,” said Fiffer. “The aim here is to capture this raw, tense, and absurd time that is so rarely represented in film.”
“Nora’s script is so moving and funny, and getting to make this film as a new mom feels really meaningful,” added Lapkus. “The early weeks of
‘Chicago P.D.’ Star Tracy Spiridakos Calls Jesse Lee Soffer the ‘Absolute Best’ as He Prepares to Exit NBC Show
A post shared by Tracy Spiridakos (@spiridakos)The news of Soffer’s departure broke Monday, with the actor sharing his thanks with the longtime fans of the show, who’ve followed his story line since the series debuted in 2014.“This is sad but true. Just want all the fans to know how grateful I am,” Soffer tweeted Monday. “You guys are why we do it! It has been an honor.
Jennifer Connelly Joins Apple’s ‘Dark Matter’ With Joel Edgerton Co-Starring and Executive Producing
- one night while walking home on the streets of Chicago – is abducted into an alternate version of his life. Wonder quickly turns to nightmare when he tries to return to his reality amid the multiverse of lives he could have lived.
Jennifer Connelly To Star Alongside Joel Edgerton In Apple Sci-Fi Series ‘Dark Matter’
Jennifer Connelly is swapping Maverick for mind-bending realities after landing a starring role in Apple series Dark Matter.
‘Stranger Things’ star Joe Keery shares new Djo single ‘Figure You Out’
Stranger Things star Joe Keery has shared a new single under his Djo moniker – listen to ‘Figure You Out’ below.Djo is set to release his second album, titled ‘DECIDE’, on September 16. The record follows 2019 debut album ‘Twenty Twenty’, and has been previewed by the singles ‘Gloom’ and ‘Change’.Prior to his solo Djo project, Keery was part of the Chicago rock band Post Animal, but parted ways with the psychedelic group in 2019 due to acting commitments.
Ella Fitzgerald Stage Musical In Works Starring Dee Dee Bridgewater & Charity Angél Dawson, With Book By Anna Deavere Smith
A new musical written by Anna Deavere Smith and featuring music from the Ella Fitzgerald songbook is currently in development. Ella: An American Miracle will receive an Aug. 25-Sept. 21 work session, with Tony-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater and Charity Angél Dawson portraying the iconic singer at different points in her life.
Courtney B. Vance Leads Cast Of ‘Heist 88’ Feature He & Angela Bassett Produce As Part Of New Overall Deal With MTV Entertainment Studios, Menhaj Huda Directs
EXCLUSIVE: Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance have renewed the overall deal with MTV Entertainment Studios for their Bassett Vance Productions, and have set Heist 88, starring Vance, as the first feature under the new pact.
‘Black Spartans’: ‘P-Valley’ Star J. Alphonse Nicholson Boards Football Drama From Director Ben Cory Jones
EXCLUSIVE: J. Alphonse Nicholson (P-Valley) has signed on to star alongside Neal McDonough and Casey Cott in the sports drama Black Spartans from writer-director Ben Cory Jones (Insecure), which is set to shoot in Atlanta this fall.
R Kelly’s lawyer questions star witness as musician’s latest sex abuse trial continues
Jurors in the latest R Kelly trial were shown clips from three sexually explicit videos on Friday, each of which allegedly shows the musician sexually abusing a fourteen year old girl. The victim who seemingly appears in the videos, simply referred to as Jane, also continued to testify.This is Kelly’s second criminal trial in a year in relation to the allegations of sexual abuse that had previously followed him around for decades.
Third Annual ‘Star Trek Day’ to Include Augmented Reality Portals, Tribute to Nichelle Nichols
Paramount+’s Twitch page, Paramount announced on Thursday. This year’s celebration will take place at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles from 12 – 3 p.m. PT on Thursday, Sept.
Bob Greenblatt Turns His ‘Gift of Free Time’ into Memoir of Producing, Programming and Persevering
Cynthia Littleton Business EditorBob Greenblatt’s rollercoaster ride as an executive over the past four years is a perfect illustration of the speed and magnitude of industry disruption.The longtime executive left his post as NBC Entertainment chairman in September 2018 after seven solid years. He joined up with AT&T’s WarnerMedia as head of HBO and international in March 2019, but 17 months later got pushed out of that role in a massive shakeup.
Anne Heche Through the Years: From ‘Another World’ to Big-Screen Blockbusters and Beyond
Anne Heche has had a long and successful career in Hollywood, but her personal life has been full of tragedy.
‘Primo’ Star Ignacio Diaz-Silverio Leads Horror-Comedy ‘Departing Seniors’, Filming Underway
EXCLUSIVE: Filming is underway in Chicago on horror-comedy Departing Seniors, starring Ignacio Diaz-Silverio, the lead in recently announced Amazon series Primo.
Lil Rel Howery Sets New HBO Comedy Special (EXCLUSIVE)
Joe Otterson TV ReporterLil Rel Howery has lined up his second HBO stand up comedy special, Variety has learned exclusively.This will be Howery’s second HBO stand up special after 2019’s “Lil Rel Howery: Live in Crenshaw.” The new special will tape in Howery’s hometown of Chicago in the coming weeks. It will then be available on both HBO and HBO Max.“Getting the opportunity to do another comedy special with HBO is a dream come true, but even more so this time around because I’m excited for the world to see what happens when I go back to my roots,” Howery said.
Rosario Dawson Credits Carrie Fisher for Her Path to Joining ‘Star Wars’ Universe: ‘She Sprinkled Some Magic Fairy Dust on Me’
in Season 2 of “The Mandalorian.” Fans of the animated series had long been hoping for Ahsoka to make the transition to live-action, and began fancasting Dawson in the role early. In fact, Dawson has largely credited the fans for making it happen — but she also has to give some of the credit to Fisher.During an appearance at C2E2 (aka Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo) on Sunday, Dawson recalled being in back in Chicago in 2016 for another convention.
A&E Partners With Its Former ‘Live PD’ Producers for New ‘Court Night Live’ Series
Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeHaving canceled “Live P.D.” in 2020, A&E is returning to the live docu-reality TV space — but this time, the network is trading order for law. A&E is set to launch “Court Night Live,” from former “Live PD” producers Big Fish Entertainment, next Wednesday, August 10 at 9 p.m.
Keanu Reeves to Star in 'Devil in the White City' Series, Leonardo DiCaprio & Martin Scorsese to Executive Produce
Keanu Reeves has landed his first major television series role to date.
'Drag Race' Star Shea Couleé Cast in Marvel's 'Ironheart' Series
is joining the MCU! season 5 winner Shea Couleé confirmed on Wednesday that she'll be featured in the upcoming Marvel series, on Disney+.created by writer Chinaka Hodge -- is set to star standout Dominique Thorne as the titular Marvel hero, aka Riri Williams, the genius inventor of the most high-tech super-suit since Iron Man. In the comic canon, Riri is a proud resident of Chicago, so it makes sense that one of the city's most popular drag queens will be part of the show — though information on Shea's character is being kept tightly under wraps.«BEYOND excited to be strutting out of the Werkroom right into the Marvel Cinematic Universe,» Shea shared on social media. «Words cannot express how excited I am to be a part of this amazing project! Acting was my first love, and I’m thrilled to be doing it again in such a big way!»BEYOND excited to be strutting out of the Werkroom right into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.